Quilting rummage sale question
 

I will be having a large rummage/garage sale at my home in a couple of weeks and have a lot of quilting supplies to be selling. If you are going to a sale, what kind of prices would you expect to pay at a sale? I have been thinking of fabric 1/4 of retail, same with patterns and books. Most books and patterns have never been used. Is that still too much to ask, or do you think reasonable for a rummage/garage sale. I am getting my house ready to sell and having to do lots of cleaning out to downsize.

Hard to tell depending on your locale. I know that I want really discounted prices. There are 2 thoughts, if you price high people might just walk on by and not ask if you'd take less. But then no matter what your price is there are going to be those who want you to take an even deeper cut (even if you have it priced at $1yd, some people will offer you .50yd) ... one reason I hate to have garage sales, LOL.

You might do better selling your quilt supplies here.

I would say that 1/4 of retail would be great for your sale. Measure your yardage beforehand, and put little stickers with the size on each piece.
If you advertise well in advance of the sale (Craig's list), the quilters will go and you may have some who come prepared with their own boxes and tote bags. If you don't advertise to quilters specifically, then you won't have the foot traffic, and you will have more likelihood of hagglers who want to give you .50 for a six-yard piece.

Some will say sell it here, but it sounds as if you don't have time to either get the requisite number of posts per the guidelines, photograph and upload your batch of (no more than) 15 items at a time, or deal with emails and trips to the post office when you are needing to get out of the house fast.
Good luck with your upcoming move! It can be stressful.

Darn i thought i was gonna go shopping! Good luck hope your sale goes very well!!

You might want to call it something other than a garage/yard/rummage sale.

Perhaps a "Quilter's Moving Sale"? Than with an idea of what you have available and ranges of prices that you are asking:

Yard goods: $2 to $4 per yard
Books and Patterns: $2 to $5


You might add that there will be 'other items' for sale at 'priced to move' prices.

I really don't know what's 'fair' to ask -
You might base your prices on:
1) what you paid for the item
2) what you think the market might bear
3) how attached you are to whatever

One of the guilds I belong to has held two or three garage sales in the local senior center. All fabric is priced at $1/yard (or less) and it flies off the tables. If you're talking 1/4 of retail, that would probably be in the $ 3/yard range, and it should get sold at that price but it might take longer. Be sure to let the local guilds know about the sale. Good luck.

I did that several years ago, when I thought I would never be able to sew again, and like you was moving.

Here's what worked for me ....
I did NOT want a public garage sale, as I was letting people into my home.
I sent emails out to everyone on my email list, telling of the quilting/crafting sale items, indoor, date, hours, etc.
The email did say it was fine to pass it on to other people who may be interested.

I washed all fabric, and tagged it with the measurement.
No pressing, just a simple fold up, so they could all be laid on a table.

To make it simple for everyone, the price was set at one price per yard.
To get into different rates for different fabrics complicates it for everyone.
It was easy to add up the total yardage and then multiply by X.

Likewise for patterns and books.
I kept my price consistent for all things of the same type.
And yes, not everything falls into a group, then it gets a different price.

As for what price? ... you have to do what is best for you.
Do you want to be rid of it all? ... or content to downsize and just have less?


As a final thought ... be sure to hold back some of your favourites, so you aren't later saying, I wish I had ..........!!!!

Good Luck!!!!!!

Road TRIP!!! Oh, sigh, I think that is too far to talk the hubby into going. Would love to be able to go to your garage sale.

I think most ppl that deal with fabrics : quilting or sewing would find 1/4 of retail a good deal...
good luck.....wish I was there!!

Thank-you for the input.
I bought most of the fabric when it was $8.00 a yard-so probably will sell it at $2.00 a yard. Patterns mostly were 8.00 so probably will sell at $2.00 each, and books, will maybe break into $2.00 each, $3.00 each, $5.00 each boxes and label accordingly.
We have our guild meeting tomorrow, so I will make an announcement there. Craig's list is a good idea. Not just selling quilting items, so will do an ad in newspaper also.
I may try listing some things here too, depending on how the sale does.

Kim

What you don't sell at your sale you could put on Craig's List and sell as group. that's what I did.

We've had a couple sales and to keep the hagglers in check, we would just say that we were doing the sale for our 'Aunt' and the price is firm. I mean c'mon, brand new pair of Wrangler jeans, never worn with tags, for $3 and they want to pay half?

We just went to a Quilters Sale yesterday and bought 65 yds of $1-$3 brand name fabrics. All in all, it came to $1.91 a yard.

The last time I had a garage sale, I had a large stack of quilting fabric. It wasn't advertised and I measured every piece. A couple of elderly ladies came and added up all the prices and offered half. I think I asked for $1-2 a yard. They said it was for charity quilts. How can I say no to that? I finally decided to give all my unwanted fabric away. This was before I found this board. It felt good to give it to new quilters.
Sue

My DH has talked about moving- He told me to take all my fabric with me. I will use it for packing material and then wash it when we arrive. Today- he's having me pack up my cookbooks- two or three totes full- Guess I better down size those.

Looking into moving in 1 1/2 years- so I still have time to figure it out.

Why not advertise what you have here on the board.

Time is on your side.
For the cookbooks ... pack up the ones that are for sure not wanted and send them away.

Any that you are having a hard time parting with, though aren't ready to let go ... pack them into a box, with their spine up, so you can read it easy enough. Mark the date on the box .. and if you have not had to re-call any of those books by the time you move (or sooner), they are ready for you to give to others, send off to charity or include in a garage sale.

I've done this before when I had an excess of kitchen tools. I pulled out all of the tools in the kitchen, and stored them in the closet. As I needed them, I got them out and put back in the drawer. It was amazing how many I never retrieved!!! (and I could probably do it again!:D)

To me I always thought garage sale was for thing you no longer wont. Now if you are looking to make more money for is do not put it in a garage like I seen here. If it are stuff you do not wont to part with put it and a storage.
But you are look for what will sale. I would look for ever thing, I only been quilting for about 2 yrs . I us ever thing. A friend gave me a small box of scraps from a quilting class she gos to. It took me all most 2 weeks to go throw it all. but I am making a quilt out of it.
So do not think any thing is just junk but it in a bag put a $1 OR .50 some one may love to have it.

Good luck in your sale.

Depends on how bad you want to make money or get rid of it. My sister used to have garage sales all the time. She would even do a bag sale on the last day (2nd or 3rd). $1.-$2.00 a bag. But! You might let your quilting friends know ahead of time and have a preview sale for them. ANd they take the whole piece or no piece. What kind of quilting supplies do you have that you're selling. You could bag scraps together coordinating colors. would love to see what you have. Maybe sell on the QB.

I think it depends on what you want from the sale- $$$$ or getting rid of you "stuff". If it is getting rid of you stuff then price it cheap;if it is $$ then $2-3/yd seem fair and but books need to be 50 -$1.00. Price your fabic by the piece/yardage. Also it is nice to have corrdinates bundled together for 1 price. I went to a garage sale and bought corrdinating fabric 30 1/2 piecesfor $8.00 great deal. You could always start at a high price and then reduce if it is not selling.LOL!!!!!

I think it would depend on how badly you want to get rid of stuff. If you are truly clearing out and just want to not see it thrown away, I'd price it to GO! But if you're tying to salvage a profit from your things, you can price it higher, but then be prepared to lug it back inside after the sale.

I think letting the guild know ahead is a good idea. You can set an afternoon or even a 2 hour window for guild members and friends to come first - kind of an open house. It would help to thin out your inventory and reduce the amount of lifting for the garage sale. With guild members, they know the value of things. And even more importantly, you know them and which ladies are doing charity work, which ladies might be financially strapped, etc., so that you can cut deals and offer lower prices as you choose.

Oh shucks I was hoping that you were closer :) I am sure if you put quilter's sale in any message you will be cleaned out by the early birds.

If you itemize deductions on your tax return, and your tax rate is 30%, you'd actually make 30% on your items if you donate them to Goodwill or Salvation Army and list the full retail price ($10 - $12 a yard). Same with the patterns. And, you don't have to deal with a garage sale. Can get the same deduction if you donate to a guild for Project Linus, etc., quilts.

That said, you'd probably do a brisk business online, especially with flat rate boxes. Most people would be happy to pay 25 - 40% for fabric and flat rate shipping too.

I'd suggest using the words "Moving Sale" in your ad. I'm a yard sale fanatic and have developed my own way of figuring out what the sale is about. "Moving Sale" often has great stuff for a good price. "Huge Sale" has often turned out to be a bunch of baby clothes and little else. "Estate Sale" often has things that are old and musty (by the time I get there) Some estate sales will allow you to place a bid on items that you want to pay less for. If they haven't sold by the end of the sale you get it at your offered price. I bought a nice pipe organ that way, but never learned to play it.

One thing that really annoys me is to go to a sale and the price is not marked. It's nice you have a plan to clearly mark the prices. There are many good suggestions here. I think your prices are great, good luck with the sale! I think it may be harder to sell patterns because people will think they can find them free online.

My Pet Peave: People who leave their yard sale signs up on poles or street corners, so I waste gas and time and increase traffic to their neighborhood for a sale that is not current! I know that doesn't have a thing to do with you, just had to say it, maybe someone will read it and think twice about that! It's kind of like litter seeing all those old signs tacked to a pole!

Your avatar is very cute, do you knit or crochet too?

I would pay up to $4 a yd. for quality fabric, and most quilters recognize them. Books about $5 and patterns $2. You may do better putting them for sale on here and charging shipping to the buyer. We know what is out there. Make sure you advertise fabrics and other quilting supplies in your add or on your sign.

Let us know how your sale went. I wish I loved closer so I could go. Not that I need anything more, but, you never know what others are selling that you can't live without... LOL!

Oh Good Luck with the sale. By the way, wear an apron with your money in it so it doesn't come up missing. I have heard of this happening.

I agree with Mamaw and I have purchased from members of the QB with great satisfaction!

Nan

Perhaps you should invite quilters and sewers with a flyer, stating that it's a quilting sale-- and the price range. For just a garage or rummage sale, I wouldn't expect to pay more than about $1 a yard.

I agree with calling it something other than a garage/rummage sale. Have a quilter's sale and then later if you have a lot of other household things you can still have a moving sale

I don't mind sales where items aren't marked. I always ask how they are selling the fabric -- by the yard, by the piece, or what. The answer to that question gives me an idea of what they have in mind and how negotiable they are. They often tell the whole story on the fabric and that itself reveals a lot.

In addition, frequently sales where prices are not marked often are the sales where if you bring a pile up to the seller, you will get a good deal.

I sent out postcards to all friends and Quilt guilds that I could find addresses. The local quilt guild members that I thought would be interested, too.